The family of late comedian Sean Hughes has spoken out after his £4million estate was granted to a charity almost a decade after his death.
The former Never Mind The Buzzcocks panellist, who died aged 51 in 2017, has had his portfolio of property assets passed to the housing organisation Shelter.
He was a keen supporter of the foundation’s work and left it his £1.8million north London home as well as two other houses worth a total £2.15million in his will.
But the handmade document was rendered unclear by some imprecise wording – and sent to the High Court to decide how his wealth should be divided.
After almost a decade a judge has finally concluded the comic, who never married but has two brothers Alan and Martin, intended to bequeath the properties to Shelter.
Now his family has shared a statement on X, telling his 36,400 followers about his wishes – while also joking about his lack of administrative skills.
The post said: ‘As Sean’s family we are delighted to confirm his bequest to Shelter. Sean was a great and generous comedian, but horrible at admin.
‘Housing vulnerability was an issue very close to Sean’s heart. He was profoundly marked by his own struggles when he moved to London to do stand-up, and became a big admirer of Shelter’s work.
Comedian Sean Hughes, pictured in Brighton in February 2007, died aged 51 in 2017
Properties he has left to the charity Shelter include this one in Glasslyn Road in Crouch End, north London, valued at £1.8million
‘We are immensely proud of Sean’s legacy and hope this gift will encourage others to think of people less privileged when making their final plans (ideally with at least a teeny, tiny bit of legal advice!).’
The properties being handed over to Shelter include Hughes’ former home on Glasslyn Road in Crouch End, north London, and two more in nearby Edison Avenue and Elder Avenue – respectively worth £1.5million and £650,000.
His will ended up before London’s High Court because he drafted it using an online platform, without legal assistance, which left it worded vaguely.
The central problem was a section which saw him bequeath ‘my three houses to Shelter’.
This became an issue because he in fact only owned one home, while two others were in the name of a company of which he was the only shareholder.
Although his family agreed the shares in the company – and therefore the properties – should go to the charity, the case had to be referred to a judge to decide.
After a short hearing conducted via videolink, Master Iain Pester concluded the ‘correct construction of the will’ was that the shares be passed to Shelter.
Had the judge declared otherwise, the two properties would have gone into Mr Hughes’ residuary estate to be held on trust for his wider family.
Hughes (left, with Mark Lamarr, centre) was well known as a long-standing team captain on quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 1996, serving opposite Phil Jupitus (right) until 2002
Among the properties left by Hughes to Shelter was this home in Edison Avenue, north London
Also covered in his will’s intentions was a £650,000 flat in nearby Elder Avenue
A statement on behalf of Sean Hughes’ family has now been shared on X, formerly Twitter
Barrister Aidan Briggs, for the executor of the will, and Alexander Learmonth, for Shelter, said his family and the charity agreed Shelter was the correct beneficiary.
Speaking afterwards, Andy Harris, the charity’s director of income generation, said: ‘Sean Hughes was a passionate supporter of Shelter’s work, and we are enormously grateful for the generous gift left in his will.
‘We have worked closely with Sean’s family to ensure his wishes are honoured.
‘Gifts left in wills are a vital source of income for Shelter.
‘This donation will enable us to continue to deliver expert support and advice to people impacted by the housing emergency and to campaign for everyone’s right to a safe and secure home.’
Mr Hughes was born in Archway, north London, to Irish parents, but spent most of his youth living at his paternal grandmother’s house in Dublin.
The comic got his start in the alternative stand-up scene of the 1980s, first appearing at the Comedy Store venue in 1987.
He went on to win the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award in 1990 aged just 24 for his show, A One-Night Stand with Sean Hughes.
From there, he moved into television, fronting his own award-winning Channel 4 series Sean’s Show from 1992.
Hughes then became a team captain on BBC music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 1996, serving opposite Phill Jupitus until 2002 and appearing in 91 episodes.
On top of his TV and stand-up work, he also published novels and collections of poetry, while also presenting a Sunday morning programme on BBC 6 Music.
He died after suffering a cardiac arrest in October 2017 and it was later discovered that he had been suffering from late-stage liver disease.
